Spells and Louds
Chapter 398: Farewell, Steven Universe
(Royal Fortress, somewhere near the South Pacific.)
The Royal Defenders are all gathered there for one reason, the beginning to the return back to Beach City. Is there trouble? Nope. Has the diamonds gone rogue once again? Nadda. Did Steven turn into a giant pink Godzilla again? Not even close. Have donuts been extinct there? What? No!
All the Royal Defenders are there, to head to beach city to say goodbye and good luck to someone who is ready to take a big step into his life.
Right now the whole place is assembling for departure, not really. They just have to use the Great Gate and go through to the outpost they left behind and then say their goodbyes to the 16 year old Half-Gem, Half-Human and that's it.
Martin then comes out of FutureTech. "Okay, so GLADIS is gonna be keeping an eye on the Royal Fortress while we're gone and she will also keep track of the Chronosphere and any anomalies that may pop up on radar."
"I guess we're all ready to go then" said Carol. The others were also ready.
"I can't believe it's been nearly three months and now Steven Quartz Diamond Universe is going to head off into the unknown, to find himself, just like his dad" said Linka.
"He's had some tough times, and it all started when he found out the many truths behind the past of his mom Pink Diamond" replied Jordan.
"The only thing we can do now and say our goodbyes to that kid, a shame he can't be around more to talk to us. But it's not goodbye forever, chances he'll be back when he finally calms down" said Leon.
"It seems we have everyone and to those who don't even know him have all decided to stay back in Royal Woods. We're all gonna have some tears when the kid leaves his home, friends and family" replied Neil.
"Well, the Crystal Gems will be the ones acting all emotional when he leaves" replied Lincoln. He's not wrong. The Crystal Gems have been with Steven for so long since he was born and they have sworn to protect and teach him about the many things, and it all came down to the truth behind the secrets of his life and his earth.
"So, are we all sure everyone who has known Steven Universe since the Spinel incident all here?" asked Victor. "Just need to be cautious right now."
"The Sith Lord dude is inbound for Beach City in his Super Star Destroyer and he's gonna be waiting for us to get there as well" said Luna. "I don't think we're missing anyone."
Jack Cyber then does a head count again. Neil, Gwen, Lincoln, Linka, Jordan, Luna, Leni, Sunset, Lori, Luan, Dana, Becky, Martin, Victor, Carol, Penny, Boomer, Peter, Sam, Ember. Timmy, Leon and Sergei. "I guess we're all here. Well, let's get going." They all make their way to the Great Gate.
"Wait!" They all look towards Penny. Martin is inches away from pushing the Chronosphere button on his tablet. "Where is the Guardian?"
They all look around. "No clue" replied Boomer. "Someone message that magic man."
Just then the portal opens. "Huh, well it was about dang time" said Sunset. But they instead see Pyrrha coming out. "Pyrrha Nikkos, what the heck? Where is Gyro?"
"He's not here" replied Pyrrha. "He went off someplace that I don't know. All he left me was this note in his study." She hands the note to Victor who reads it out loud.
"Dear friends, listen to me. I have managed to track down someone I have been looking for. Whatever you do, do not come looking for me, I do not want a repeat with what happened to Martin in Amphibia and I can handle this myself. Stay safe and keep things under reps until I get back. From your good friend/ally Gyro, Guardian of the Realms. P.S – Pyrrha, do not let anyone into the tower."
"Huh, so I guess we're going to Beach City without him, he sure is missing a lot" replied Timmy.
"He has his own business and we have ours" said Luan. "Besides, no one wants to Bee in Bees-ness when we do our thing!" They all just watch her laugh at her own pun.
"Whatever Gyro is up to, he'll tell us what it's all about when he gets back" said Leni. "He has his reason as to why he would do this on his own, let's trust him on this one."
Deep down, Neil had a feeling that he knows what Gyro is doing. 'Could he be going after the Most Waned Witch Alive? Is he going by himself to take down Edalyn Clawthorne the Owl Lady?' He's gonna have to wait for Gyro to come back to know more about what's going on.
"Okay, so we should literally get going now" said Lori.
"The Guardian might not be here, but I will be here to come with you all and do not worry, Karazhan is being guarded by some powerful magic's that I have left behind." Pyrrha then uses her magic to make the portal to Beach City, so Martin doesn't have to use his Chronosphere device.
"Okay guys, this is it. Time to say farewell to a good friend" said Lincoln. They all make their way into the portal and it disappears.
GLADIS in the meanwhile goes through some reports and things around the base, and she even gets an incoming report about their new guests on earth, the Sea Emperors.
(Beach City.)
They come out of the other great gate on the Imperial base there and they see some TIE Fighters all getting ready for the big goodbye smoke in the sky for when it comes.
"Looks like Hollow was planning on something special for Steven and his farewell" replied Neil.
"Yes I was." They get startled by his presence and Luna stabs him with Frostmourne. Hollow then pulls the Runeblade off of him. "You are so lucky I can't die and I also knew you were gonna do that."
"Dude, where did you come from?" asked Luna as she puts her Runeblade away.
"I came here 30 minutes before all of you came here. I needed to make sure everything will be ready for when the kid leaves, you guys can go to ground level and meet up with him, while I will be walking around Beach City – in my AT-ACT" replied Hollow.
They all look to him with little to know joy at what he just said. "Okay, so where are Mephisto and Praxina?" asked Jack Cyber.
"Back at the base, I told them to take a break and just enjoy some relaxing time and also get used to some other new modern tech" replied Hollow. He then checks his watch. "Well, I am gonna go and take off to the town." He heads to the AT Hauler carrying his AT-ACT.
"We should go and check out what Steven is up to" said Lincoln. They all nod and needed to find a form of transportation there.
But Martin has his suit, Sam and Victor can pretty much fly and so can Becky and Pyrrha. Lincoln, Linka and Jordan ride with Luna on Sindragosa and Gwen rides Neil who summons his Deathwing's and the rest ride into Jack Cyber who transforms into a Dropship.
They then take off and make their way to Beach City, to say goodbye to a good friend/ally.
(Gem Temple.)
They arrive to Beach City and it is already past noon and they all land near the temple but then they see Steven coming out of the house. "Steven!"
The 16 year old half-gem human sees them and smiles. "Hey guys, I guess you're all to see me take off huh?"
"Well what did you think you goof ball" said Gwen. "We have been here and helped you guys out with the whole Spinel and giant pink you problems and we also have hung out on some occasions."
"We know that what you're doing is your choice and we were told about this by the Guardian who for some reason had his own thing to do right now" said Jordan.
Steven chuckles. "Hey, at least you guys showed up and it's all fine. Besides, Gyro has his own thing to do and I know it involves the realms, and I'm glad you all came to watch me leave. Right now I was about to get my dad to see if he can help me pack my things and I was also planning to let him take my room."
"Whoa. Letting your dad stay in the temple, and in your room? Now that is mighty nice of you, sure as heck the gems will be okay with that" said Sergei.
"Does anyone else know about this?" asked Leon.
"Well, I guess Connie and Da spread the word to everyone in beach city and I did tell some of the gems back at little homeworld" replied Steven.
They all didn't like the sound of that one, they know 4 gems who live there who might have some slight emotional issues with him leaving. "And how did they take it?" asked Carol.
Steven sighs. "Not so well, they kinda felt bad and upset, but they calmed down and understood."
"Do tell" said Linka.
Steven smiles. "Well, I gave Peridot my old Steven shirt back when I was a kid, because she said she would never find a Steven like me and so I told her to be her own Steven."
"Lapis didn't want me to run away from my problems like she did long ago, I gave her a 142 pieces art kit so she can continue to make her own kinds of art from how she personally feels. She appreciated the gift and she felt as if she didn't wanna let me go."
"As for Bismuth, she said she was going to build me a vacation home outside of little homeworld but I declined it and I gave her the old flag of the Crystal Gems, because there was no other gem who was more Crystal Gem like she is and she said that all three of them would've been nothing if it weren't for me, they really were gonna miss me and I was gonna miss them." Steven then wipes away a tear and he sees the Royal Defender also feeling like crying. Though Sergei wasn't crying, and neither was Peter Sharp.
"Oh what? Oh, my tear ducts were vaporized this morning from Leon's Yamper, currently I have healing nanites inside of me mending that wound and Peter is not much of a man to cry from something like this" replied Sergei. Peter nods.
"So, what about … .You know …. Jasper?" said Peter. They all stopped crying and felt a bit awkward about that name.
Steven also stops shedding some tears. "Yeah, she … She was kinda upset at first, she even said she wanted to come with me to protect me, but she understood that I can protect myself. For that, she broke two holes into the wall of the tower Bismuth made, she could've used the door, but I knew she was … Upset."
They all had no words for that. "Count on Jasper to lighten the mood with that" said Victor.
Then Lincoln asks. "What about, the Crystal Gems? Garnet, Amethyst and Pearl?"
They see Steven looking kinda upset, but then he tries to give them a smile. "I gave Amethyst my old video game system and …. She was planning to delete all my saved games and beat all my high scores."
They all did not like the sound of that. "Then I gave Pearl my old Ukulele that I used to play music back then and she just placed it into her gem to organize, as usual and she said it was okay for me to get out there and explore the world and to …. Have fun."
They then stop getting worried and they can tell there's a pattern in this. Mostly, into Steven's thoughts. "As for Garnet, well planning the wedding of Ruby and Sapphire all those years ago was awesome, and so I gave Garnet something with so much sentimental value, I gave her the book where I kept all the memories of the wedding from long ago and also asked her to be the one to plan my … Future Wedding."
They can all see this isn't about the gems anymore. "I even asked her to use her future vision to tell me that the gems wouldn't be worried or sad about me leaving and she said that she ….. She didn't need her future ….. Future vision to …. To see worry, and she said that I can handle things and that the best part of leaving is for me to figure it out …. On my own!" Steven then ends up crying.
They all go over and comfort him. "Steven, this wasn't about the gems and how upset they are, you wanna know how they feel and you're upset they're not showing any emotions of you leaving right?" asked Leni.
Steven then stops crying and he wipes away his tears. "Y-Yeah, I mean …. They don't look sad and I don't know if seeing them be sad is making me petty."
Neil then goes over to Steven. "Steven, we may not have the answers to that. But maybe your dad can tell you, go and ask him and he'll let you know, the one person who can truly understand you will always be him."
Steven smiles. "Thanks Neil, I should go and ask him to help me pack. See you guys in a few." Steven then uses his car and he drives to his dad's car wash.
They all just watch and sigh as this happens. "You have the answers to his words don't you dad?" asked Lincoln.
"Yeah, I do" replied Neil. "But it's Greg's responsibility to help Steven, he knows what it's like to take off and be on his own and I think he needs to help Steven also figure this out, and also deal with what the heck is wrong with the gems."
"I know the answer to that" replied Hollow. They turn around and see the guy on his AT-ACT. "The gems are upset, but they're trying to be strong for him. Deep down, they are feeling so many emotions and tears."
They all sigh and understand. The Crystal Gems have been helping and protecting Steven ever since he moved in with them, they are his legal Guardians, teachers and friends. They are just as upset as Steven is, they just need to wait for the whole thing to go down when the time comes, and that time could be when the 16 year old teen leaves.
(Hours later.)
All of them are now back on the beach. The Royal Defenders, the Crystal Gems, Greg and Connie.
They watch as Steven talks to Connie and his dad and how he'll miss them, then he goes over to the Royal Defenders. "Thanks for …. For being such unexpected and kinda adventurous friends and for letting me be part of the Immortal Council, sort of."
"They know about you leaving dude, but they know it's not forever" said Luna.
"Yeah, you'll be back home soon and as a changed man with a new look in life and possibly a new happily ever after that will never ever end, until the actual happily ever after" said Leon.
"Stay safe kid and keep an eye on things, don't let any trouble get in your way and don't forget to call those who care about you kid" said Martin. They all say their farewell to Steven, then he looks to the Sith Lord who is responsible for the new defense of Beach City.
"Hey Hollow. Thanks for … For being a good guy." He offers his hand to the Supreme Leader.
Hollow hugs him instead, which shocks them. "Take care kid, follow your heart and if you ever feel like going home, then it's not cowardly or wrong to just go back and be with the ones who care about you. We'll all be waiting for you to come back and so will I."
They then break the hug and Steven smiles. "So long Sith Lord."
"Farewell Steven Quartz Diamond Universe, the stars will always guide your path, just as your shirt it." They both chuckle at that joke, then Steven goes over to the Crystal Gems.
They all watch as Steven talks to them, and they notice the gems are showing no signs of sadness, but they know it'll come out, soon.
But then Steven finishes his farewell to them and they see him walk to his car and drive off. The gems still share no signs of sadness still. Jack Cyber whispers to Hollow. "Dude, I thought they were gonna let their emotions out."
Hollow then stops him. "Wait for it."
Then Steven comes back with his car in full reverse and he stops in front of the gems, and with so many tears. "What's wrong with you guys?! Aren't you sad that I'm leaving?!"
Amethyst sheds tears. "Oh man, I can't take this anymore!"
Water detonates from the side of Garnet's shades. "We were trying to be strong for you."
Pearl turns around and has tears too, but can't say anything because she is way too sad to say anything. So, Garnet speaks for her. "Pearl agrees."
Steven then comes out of the car and he goes over and hugs them, they embrace this moment with hugs and so many tears. Amethyst didn't want to delete all of his saved games, Pearl admits she loves the Ukulele and that she won't play anything else and Garnet is overjoyed to be the one to plan Steven's Future Wedding, and that she has seen the future and has planned 363 versions of it.
They all smiled and also shed some tears. Hollow removes his mask and has tears as well. "Like I said, they were holding it in and trying to be strong, for him."
Garnet them tells Steven that she saw a possibility where they're tears would hold him back, but Garnet also saw some possibilities where they would always be part of whatever path Steven takes and that they always will love him. No matter where he goes, the Crystal Gems, his first friends will always be there for him, always.
Steven smiles and he gets back into the car, they all do one last farewell and watch as Steven's car drives off and is no longer in view.
"There he goes, off to wherever the road may lead him" said Hollow. Then TIE Fighters fly by and deploy smoke that says, "Farewell Steven, see you soon!"
Steven sees this and smiles, he then sees the Big Donut shop and he sees the people and gems of the town greet him a farewell. He even gets greeted a salute by the forces of the Empire.
Steven smiles, he looks around and sees Gems and humans all wishing him good luck and farewell and he sees the water tower that says. "Beach City." He then increases the volume to the radio and the song playing "Being Human."
Steven looks back at all the memories that he went through, all the adventures he fought and all the friends he knows and loves and he will one day see again, when the time comes. Steven Universe will be back.
(Karazhan.)
Bill Cipher is busy playing on a PSP, but he loses. "No! Come on, this game bites it! That's it round three Bowser and this time I know what to do!"
Just then a raven flies into the room and morphs back into Gyro. "Well, that was sorted out."
Bill Cipher puts his PSP away. "Oh wow, it only took you two days to do the job. So, where the heck is the payment of snails and the head of the Owl Lady?"
Gyro sighs. "It appears, I have misunderstood the ways of the Owl Lady Edalyn Clawthorne, and she doesn't seem like a bad witch. She's sorta like me, well almost."
Bill Cipher is confused. "So, what's you're saying is, she's old and has so much power that she uses it for things she rarely sees as an important sense to the realms, or is she all-knowing and wise."
Gyro looks to Bill Cipher a bit annoyed. "Not even close. She's just a witch who wants to do what she wants, she doesn't want to join some covenant and she hasn't done anything wrong, sorta. Well besides breaking the law in illegally selling human trinkets without a permit for a stand and also a few crimes like going to earth at some point. She just wants to be the witch she wants to be and she's called powerful because she refuses to join a covenant and be restricted of all forms of magic, I mean joining a covenant sounds kinda wrong in my book. Magic is about letting things be and using what you have learned in your enchanted arsenal, no one should be shackled to using one form of magic."
He then goes over to Bill Cipher's containment. "Like how I have held you in here." He then uses his magic to shut down the containment field.
"Whoa! What the heck are you doing?" Bill Cipher then feels his powers coming back.
"Bill, I know you have had many things in your mind for when it comes to power, but can I trust you to be an ally to when the cause needs it the most?" asked Gyro.
Bill Cipher thinks about this. "Well, from the many times I heard from the fate of the realms nearly falling apart, I don't think power is what I seek and I don't think I even want revenge on the Pines twins anymore. So, what I'm saying is, you got a spot for me here in this tower?"
Gyro smiles and he puts his hand out to the demon. "Welcome to Karazhan, Bill Cipher."
"And I look forward to helping you and the realms with any problems, also when do I get to meet the Royal Defenders?"
Gyro chuckles. "When the time is right Cipher, when the time is right."
To be continued …..
A/N: This was a good timing to the fact I believe Steven Universe did leave after 3 months of the incident with him becoming some giant Pink Stevenzilla, and this is also to the last episode to the greatest Cartoon Network show of the generation, Steven Universe Future and Steven Universe. Leave a Review and tell me what you all think.
Steven Universe and Steven Universe Future, are the property of Cartoon Network and Creator Rebecca Sugar.
Date made: 7/21/20.